This township, lying on the west side of the county, is bounded on the north by Austin, on the east by
Hickory Point, on the south by Harristown, and on the west by Niantic township and Logan county.
The surface is a level prairie. The soil, like the adjoining townships, is rich and productive. It is well drained
by Jones' Creek in the north-west corner, Citch Branch in the central part and Willow Branch which
heads in section 35, and runs in a westerly direction and leaves the township in section 31. The Pekin
and Decatur Railroad enters it on section 6, runs diagonally across the township, leaving it on section 24.
The name Illini, is an Indian name, and means "real men" or "superior men." Some of the early
explorers wrote the name of this tribe Illini, and others Illinois.

There were no settlements made in Illini until the year 1850, when Walter Turner emigrated from Ohio,
and settled on or near what is now section 31, where he erected a frame dwelling-house and began farming.
Mr. Turner is still residing in the township, having moved, however, to the north-western part, where he
is engaged in farming.

Later in the same year, William Peed, from Morgan county, Illinois, and Humphrey Scroggins, from
Logan county, Illinois, settled near Walter Turner. These families formed a nucleus around which the
settlements rapidly increased with families from the east, principally from the granite state.

In the autumn of 1857, a pay school was opened by a Miss Dudley, who continued to teach in one
of the farm-houses, until the spring of the year following, when a frame school-house was erected on
section 34. Miss Dudley then taught a public school in this building on its completion.

The first sermon preached in this township was by a Methodist cirduit rider, from Illiopolis, in the year
1856. Rev. John Hughes was the first resident preacher. Illini remained destitute of a house of worship
until the year 1875.

John Peed and Jemimiah Hensen were the first couple married. Carter Scroggins, a son of Humphrey
Scroggins, was the first child born. This occurred in 1851 or '52.

In 1853, occurred the death of a lady named Sarah Eyman, who was a member of the family of Mr. Eyman,
who came from St. Clair county, Illinois, at an early date. This was the first death. The first Justice of
the Peace was Lewis Eyman. Mr. Rodgers was the first to open a shop and do general blacksmithing.

In 1871, occurred the establishment of a post-office at Warrensburg, with R. Schrader, as first
post-master. Dr. Holbrook, who located in Warrensburg, was the first physician.

The first entry of land dates back to July 18th, 1849, when Walter Turner entered 80 acres in
section 33, and two tracts in section 34, of 80 acres each. And on the same day Humphrey Scroggins
entered S.W. 1/4 of section 34, 160 acres, all in T. No. 17 N. R. 1 east of the 3d P.M.

The first introduction of fine stock was made by Skillman Allen. In 1855, he brought a herd of
short-horn cattle from Kentucky; also in the same year he had imported from Kentucky a lot of Cotswold
sheep. In 1857, J.H. Pickerell bought and introduced the first fine hogs. These were the Berkshire
breed. In 1862, he brought some fine south down sheep from Kentucky. During the same year,
Samuel Batchelder brought into the township some Morgan and St. Lawrence horses, which were the
first well-bred horses.

Following is a list of the supervisors since township organization:

J.H. Pickerell, elected in 1864; John S. Childs, elected in 1865, and re-elected in '66 and '67;
J.C. Tucker, elected in 1868; J.J. Bachelder, elected in 1869, and re-elected in '70; J.C. Tucker,
elected in 1871, and re-elected in '72; L.R. Morse, elected in 1873, and re-elected each succeeding
year up to '76; E.J. Roberts, elected in 1877, and re-elected each year, and is the present incumbent.

Peter Wise, a Pennsylvanian, who came to the county in 1850, now lives on section 11; M.E.
Batchelder, on section 19, came from New Hampshire in 1854; C.F. Demsey, a resident of Warrensburg,
is an Ohioan, and came in 1853; J.T. Clough, living on section 32, is a native of New Hampshire, and
emigrated in 1861; these are a few of the prominent men now residing in the township.

The town of Warrensburg is beautifully situated on section 14, on the line of the Pekin and Decatur
Railroad, about nine miles north-west of Decatur. It was laid out by Messrs. Warren and Durfee, soon
after the construction of the railroad. The town was named in honor of Mr. Warren, one of the original
proprietors. John Ritchie erected the first dwelling-house. The first store was kept by Samuel Ritchie,
just north of the present limits. The post-office was established in 1871, with R. Schrader as post-master.
Jonas Hawood kept the first hotel. Samuel Ritchie was also the first blacksmith.

The Husman Brothers were the first persons to erect a mill. It was a very old and odd pattern, and
presents a very strange appearance. It is a wind-mill of the old New England style, and was built for
grinding corn meal and buck-wheat flour. It is still standing and in operation.

The wagon-shop of Messrs. Workman &amp Binkley was the first establishment of the kind in the
town. Dr. Holbrook was the first physician. In 1874, the Methodist denomination erected the first
church. Rev. Mr. Morland delivered the first sermon in the town, and Rev. Mr. Simmons was the
first local preacher.

Miss Harman taught the first school. The school-house was built in 1874.

All materials contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of individuals
engaged in researching their personal genealogy. Any commercial use or any use for which money
is asked or paid for any reason is strictly prohibited.